Tare-weight.



'J. W. 0111). TARE WEIGHT.

APPLICATION FILED APB..30, 1907.

928,745. Patented Jul 20, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. W. FORD.

TAKE WEIGHT.

I APPLIOATIONTILED APR.30, 1907. v 928,745. Patented July 20, 1909.

2 sums-sum '2.

M I M UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. FORD, OF ALTON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO AUTOMATIC SCALE COMPANY,OF ALTON, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

TAKE-WEIGHT.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. FORD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Alton, in the county of Madison and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Improvementin Tare-WVeights, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to a tare weight designed to be used inconnection with computing scales and especially in connection with ascale such as is shown in my applica tion executed February 18, 1907,and having Serial Number 361,302, and in the application executed uponthe same date and having Serial Number 361,539, and to which referenceis had for parts of the scale not shown herein.

The object of this tare weight is to serve as an adjustablecounter-weight for any article placed upon-the scale platform and not tobe included in the selling weight, as for example, lard pails, dishesinto which butter is to be placed or any receptacle which it iscustomary to place upon a scale to receive merchandise to be weighed andsold. It is the ordinary custom to weigh such receptacles and then addto the predetermined weight of the receptacle to the weight of thearticle to be placed in it to secure the total weight, or to secure thetotal weight and then deduct the weight of the receptacle to secure theactual net weight of the article sold, a matter of some difficulty andone in which errors can be readily made where both the amounts involvepounds, ounces and fractions of ounces.

The object of my invention is a tare weight rotatable by means of ahandle traveling over a graduated scale so constructed and arranged thatwhen ,the handle is moved along the scale to a mark having a value equalto the weight of the vessel, it will cause the tare weight to balancethe weight of the vessel, thus returning the indicator hand to zero, sothat when the article to be weighed is placed in the receptacle theindicator hand will give the net weight.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of theplatform end portion of a computing scale, showing my tare weightapplied thereto. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the tare weight mechanismremoved from the scale. Fig. 3 is a transverse section through theplatform end portion of the scale and through the tare weight mechanism,the

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 30, 1907.

Patented July 20, 1909.

Serial No. 371,179.

scale beam being shown in section and the platform being shown in edgeelevation.

In these drawings A represents the housing for the scale beam and A thescale platform which is provided with a standard A the lower end ofwhich is connected to a link A pivoted to a bracket A.

B represents a scale beam which is connected to a tare weight casing Bwhich is provided with projecting knife edges B upon its opposite sideswhich are mounted in suitable standards B, said tare weight casing beingconnected pivotally with the platform by means of the arms B and acounterbalance B for the platform is also connected with the arms,casing and consequently with the scale-beam, so that all of said partswill move together. WVith the exception of the tare Weight casing Bthese parts are, shown only to make clear the construction and operationof the tare weight to be now described.

The tare weight consists of two gear segments C meshing with each otherand mounted upon suitable screw shafts O the threaded portions of whichthread into a suitable plate C carried by the central portion of thetareweight casing B. These shafts are provided with bushings D, the lowerends of which are flanged to form washers for bosses C formed upon theinner ends of the segment O which bosses receive the bushings D and formbearings upon which segments are mounted and spring washers D are fittedbetween the heads of the screws and the upper faces of the segments. Thesegments are rotated upon the screws or shafts O by handles E which moveover a graduated scale E, formed on the upper edge of a tare weightcasing B and laid off in ounces and pounds. The tare weights proper areformed of lead and are secured upon the under sides of the segments C,as shown at F being held in place by depending lugs (3* carried by thesegments and perforated so that the lead will flow into the perforationsthereby more securely holding the same in place. In adjacent faces ofthese weights F, are adjustable screws F which not only serve toregulate the normal position of said weights but also prevent injury tothe lead faces of the weights when they are brought together. I haveshown and described two segments, two weights and two handles which arearranged upon opposite sides of the scale, and as the segments mesh witheach other, it will be obvious that it is only necessary to move onehandle to rotate both weights and therefore, it will be obvious that thetare weight mechanism can be operated from either side of a counter. Thespring Washers D serve as tension devices to hold the tare weight in itsadjusted position.

The operation of the device is as follows :-The tare weights normallylie in such position that the dial hand indicates zero and when anyreceptacle such as a pail or dish is placed upon the scale platform theindicator hand of the dial, not shown in this application, will at onceindicate the weight or" such receptacle which we may say is one pound.One 01'? the handles is then moved over the graduated scale E to the onepound mark, thus partially rotating both segments and both weights andwhen the said handle reaches the one pound mark it exactlycounter-balances the weight of the receptacle and the indicator handreturns to zero. The material may then be placed in the receptacle andthe indicator hand will give the net weight.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a computing scale, a scale beam a tare weightcasing connected to the scale beam and with the platform, intermeshingsegments, the longitudinal axes of said segments normally lying inalinement with the pivotal points, weights carried by said plates andmeans for swinging said plates upon their pivot points.

2. The combination with a computing scale of a tare weight easing, theupper edge of said casing having a scale formed thereon, segmentalplates pivotally nmunted adjacent their inner ends upon an upwardlyproject ing portion of the casing, the inner ends of said segments beingprovided with intermeshing gear teeth, weights carried by said segmentsand handles carried by the segments, traveling over the scale.

3. The combination with a counter-balanced platform, of tare weightsadapted to balance the weight of an article placed upon said platformwhen said weights are rotated, means for simultaneously rotating bothweights and means for holding said weights in their adjusted position.

at. The combination with a computing scale, of tare weightseccentrically pivoted, said weights being provided with intermeshinggears, a graduated scale for use with each weight, a handle carried byeach weight and movable upon the scale, means for supporting the scaleplatform, a casing containing said weights and carrying said graduatedscale, the platform supporting means being connected to said casing anda scale beam connected to said casing, all as and for the purpose setforth.

5. In a scale of the kind described, the combination with the platformand scale beam, of a casing connected with the scale beam, said casingbeing pivotally mounted, and operatively connected with the platform,the tare Weights pivotally mounted in the casing and adapted to move inunison, each weight being provided with a handle, and a graduated scalecarried by the casing and over which the handles are adapted to move.

JOHN lV. FORD. \Vitnesses M. P. BOYN'ION, E. (l. ll/lERIWE'JHER.

